Category Manager IT

Are you an experienced IT Procurement professional who thrives on creating impact while building sustainable partnerships? In this role, you will directly contribute to Lely’s mission:

“We create innovative solutions that enable our customers to excel in sustainable dairy farming to feed the world.”

You enjoy working in a dynamic environment where results, innovation, and collaboration come together. You spot opportunities in the market, translate them into tangible value, and bring others along in the process. Does this sound like you? Then keep reading.

What will you do?

As an IT Category Manager, you will be responsible for managing and optimizing Lely’s IT procurement portfolio. You will take ownership of the entire sourcing process, from strategy development to supplier selection, contracting, and vendor management.

You operate at the intersection of business, IT, and suppliers, balancing strategic thinking with a pragmatic approach. You work closely with internal stakeholders and build strong external partnerships.

Your responsibilities include:

• Leading end-to-end sourcing processes, with a focus on maximizing value creation
• Negotiating with suppliers and securing sustainable, future-proof contracts
• Managing stakeholders proactively, ranging from subject matter experts to senior management
• Developing and executing sourcing strategies aligned with organizational goals
• Identifying market developments and leveraging innovative solutions
• Selecting and challenging suppliers to continuously improve
• Driving collaboration and knowledge sharing within multidisciplinary (international) teams
• Contributing to the further professionalization and innovation of the procurement function

Wat is jouw ervaring?

You are a results-driven professional with an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong eye for opportunities. At the same time, you are able to build connections and develop long-term relationships.

In addition, you bring:

• A completed Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a commercial, business, or related field
• NEVI 1 and/or NEVI 2 certification is a nice to have
• Around 5–10 years of experience in IT procurement, with room for flexibility depending on overall profile and impact
• Experience in a production/manufacturing environment is a plus
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills
• Excellent communication skills in Dutch and English
• Ownership, persuasiveness, and the ability to influence stakeholders
• You are based in the Netherlands

Wat bieden wij jou?

Working at Lely means contributing to sustainable progress within one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You contribute to making the agricultural sector future-proof - and we make sure that you get all the space, resources and support you need to do so.

• An international working environment with opportunities for own initiative and entrepreneurship.
• Excellent working conditions, including up to 8 weeks of vacation per year and a good pension scheme.
• A competitive salary package, with room for growth as you develop in the role.
• Good growth opportunities: you are in control of your development and can choose from various training courses through our Lely Academy - from personal development to job-specific training.
• Our modern Lely Campus offers daily access to extensive sports facilities: an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, an outdoor basketball and volleyball court, table tennis and table soccer. You can join Hyrox workouts or sign up for personal training - and challenge your colleagues during an active break.
• Enjoy fresh coffee and tea from our own barista, with milk straight from our farm, as well as a healthy and affordable company restaurant.
• A healthy work-life balance thanks to our hybrid work policy: you work at least three days a week on Campus, with flexible working hours and plenty of room to spend extra time on site (between 06:00 and 20:00).
• A free shuttle bus will take you to and from the metro in Maassluis, so your workday starts and ends smoothly.
• Successes need to be celebrated: from anniversaries to Christmas parties - at Lely we know how to do it!

Over Lely

Lely is committed to creating a sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future in agriculture. Driven by the challenges farmers face and the needs of cows, we develop high-quality robots and data systems that improve animal welfare, flexibility, and productivity on dairy farms. Our mission is to support sustainable food production.

For more than 30 years, we have been a global leader in the sales and service of automated systems for successive generations of dairy farmers. Every day, we inspire our colleagues to provide customers with innovative solutions and to be a reliable partner for long-term advice and support. With our state-of-the-art Lely Campus in Maassluis and a worldwide network of dedicated Lely Centers offering tailored sales and service, Lely operates in more than fifty countries.